four? And yet the territory
awaiting churches holds twelve States, and each State is an empire.
Only four? And yet the darkest spot in the republic is crying for the
light of the Gospel. Only four? And yet three-fourths of the
illiteracy of the whole nation must be grappled with. Four new
churches versus ten millions of immortal souls! What are these among
so many? This is the question which the report of the American
Missionary Association for 1888 sends through the length and breadth
of American Congregationalism.

To keep us in cheer the Executive Committee puts these facts by the
side of the four new churches:

First--"In each school" (and there are seventy-six schools) "we have
an incipient church." This predicts a golden future. "Each school is
a torch of Christ in a dark place." This means advancing
illumination.

Second--There are one hundred and thirty-two old churches fully
organized and completely vitalized. All of these are centred at
strategic points.

Third--There is a living army of 8,452 adults, and of 17,114 children
carrying the banner of the Lord. These give themselves, and give
their substance, to the cause of Christ, and to the good of their
fellowmen, in a way worthy of emulation.

Fourth--These churches and this army are under, and are led by
pastors who are for the most part the children of this Association.
This means thorough equipment, and discipline, and effectiveness, and
aggressive work.

When we look at what has been done in the line of church work in our
vast field, and compare it with our limited resources, we are
satisfied and speak the praises of the noble men and women in the
field and in the office. We have garnered fruit grandly
proportionated to the planting. But when we look at the work which
has been done and contrast it with what remains to be done, we are
far from being satisfied. Instinctively we are impelled to repeat the
call of the prophet in the hearing of the Church of Christ: "Arise,
shine, for thy light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen
upon thee." Proportioning the means used to the products reaped, we
look forward with hope, expecting a future that shall correspond with
the promises of God. The statistics in this department of the
Association's labors may look like "Holy Trifles;" and comparatively
they are "Holy Trifles;" but so is the "handful of corn" in the
Messianic psalm, which depicts the future growth of Christendom. The
things tabulated